Chegg Skills Reviews
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German Verified via LinkedIn
UX/UI Immersion
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Before enrolling in Thinkful's UX/UI Immersion program, I was working as a graphic designer making $15 an hour (after graduating with a BFA).
The course was excellent at getting me ready to find a job in the field—with tons of information and resources. It helped that I had a graphic design background, but I also got as much out of the program as I put into it.
We had three different instructors with different backgrounds (freelance, agency, and in-house). They were all very helpful and shared their experience with real-world examples and anecdotes. I was also assigned a mentor in the field who helped me with different assignments, gave me advice in the field, and talked to me about his current projects.
Upon graduating, I worked with a career coach who helped me perfect my job-hunting strategy and held me accountable. I spent several hours each day applying to different jobs and that process became a full-time job in itself. In the end, the certificate by itself didn't matter as much as the knowledge I gained from the course, my experience, and my portfolio. I found a job one month after graduating making the average level entry salary.
Notes:
• Having a design background helped tremendously throughout the course and during the job search. People with no design experience beforehand had more of a challenge.
• The graders weren't always on the same page with each other, but it seemed to get better towards the end of the program.
• I didn't use the TA's as much, but other students had mixed feelings about them. -
Jake Elizondo Verified via LinkedIn
Software Engineering Immersion
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Overall I had an excellent experience at Thinkful which culminated in accepting a job offer as a Software Engineer one month after my graduation. The curriculum and instructors I thought were really great, though I was the last cohort on that version of the curriculum, so I cannot speak to the new curriculum. Hopefully they have added in React Hooks. My one less-than-great experience was the group work, I think they are actively working on finding a better way to structure group coding. I had a couple good groups, but most of the time people would either not come to the group sessions or just mute themselves and effectively not be there. By the end of the course I was pretty much just working solo. However, despite the group experience not being ideal I still learned an absolute ton and was able to land a job, which was the goal! -
Mel Verified via LinkedIn
Data Analytics Flex
Thinkful provided a thorough review of the building blocks for being a data analyst. I felt confident applying to jobs with the knowledge I gained. Thinkful offers plenty of virtual support from weekly sessions with a mentor from your area of study to a job coach after completion of the course. There is chat tutors and virtual tutoring rooms. -
Thomas Orgler Verified via LinkedIn
Data Science Flex
Was a great opportunity to learn the ins and outs of data science and apply in real-time projects. Very grateful to the program and how structured it is to set the student up for success. -
Jeffrey Zhu Verified via GitHub
Data Analytics Flex
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I attended Thinkful's data analytics flex program from October-February. The recommended timeframe was 6 months though I finished it in 3 months. The curriculum which involved Excel, SQL, Tableau. and Python were all relevant and appropriate for a job in data analytics. However, I would say that the bootcamp revolved mostly around Excel which seems to be less and less relevant as the data analytics field becomes increasingly technical. I would've appreciated a greater focus on SQL as that was the skill most tested for as I began applying. I felt that the SQL portion of the curriculum was a great foundation but didn't help me apply the skills in practical contexts. Additionally, the Python portion was rather sparse and also questioned frequently during my interviews.
Overall, the bootcamp did an excellent job for what it is. It provided a foundation and starting point for me to learn on my own terms. I could take it as fast or slow as I wanted to. I ended up landing an amazing job after attending with a salary beyond my dream scenario. The bootcamp is a launch pad for an individual to push for their own success. It will not lead to a job magically on its own or be an end of your learning. It gives you structure for you to explore on your own and create projects that will dazzle interviewers. However, the onus is on the student and it is not as guided as some may be expecting. -
Rachel Spring Verified via LinkedIn
Data Analytics Flex
6 months of self-led online modules. -
Matthew Seelig Verified via LinkedIn
Immersion means immersion!
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I recently completed the full-time Data Analytics Immersion course provided by Thinkful. I was impressed with the amount of knowledge gained in a short period of time - in two weeks, I went from complete unfamiliarity with the advanced functions of Excel to passing an Excel assessment on LinkedIn with flying colors! The support provided by Thinkful's instructors and counselors is tremendous, and the focus remains on career placement every step of the way. I was able to secure a job offer less than a month after I completed the course! -
Trevin Wacker Verified via LinkedIn
Good setup for self motivated education
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All these perspectives are regarding the Flex program, the Immersive may be different.
My favorite thing about Thinkful was the mix of setting up for success in both the industry and as a job candidate. Through the course of the program, the lessons and capstones are marked through helpful lessons in resume building, portfolio construction, and other necessary skills that, even if you've applied/had a substantial professional career, are great supplements to the coursework. I'm self motivated but it's still helpful to make this a required stepping stone of the program, and I feel the feedback I got was very helpful.
I also really liked my mentor, he did a good job of providing guidance and ideas for my projects, and having overall advice on the Data Science field down to what laptops I should look into, but was also diligent on pushing me to produce really good work through the program. Even as a new data scientist, it's important to demonstrate good work and capability and I'm glad I had him in my corner.
There were quite a few technical errors during my time in the program, including some delays in grading and one case where I never received grading at all, and the quality varied. Some feedback was detailed and others not, and a majority of the assignments aren't graded regardless. I would say that was my biggest letdown; I would've liked more feedback and at more consistent points throughout the program. Once you get past coding it really does require a person to grade a project or assignment, but at least having some additional quizzes or shorter assignments that could be looked at would be helpful.
My interactions with other students was also very limited. I was pretty involved with the student Slack channel and the career development sessions for my first two months, and then after never interacted with another student. It is encouraged to but the community Slack channels for learners in the same city aren't very strong and, even though each capstone suggests that you'll present to your peers, I never did and was never able to. I'm assuming this is all different for Immersion, but that program is more expensive and (obviously) more immersive.
Overall I would recommend the program, but self motivation really is key, especially after! The program does a good job of setting you up and providing a path but it really is reliant on you to put in the work. -
Mackenzie West Verified via LinkedIn
Digital Marketing Flex
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I dropped out of college because I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do as a career so my sister told me to check out this program called Thinkful, and I immediately became interested in their digital marketing program. Joining their team was one of the best decisions I’ve made. I learned how to do so much in only 4 months, I loved how hands on all the projects were with me being a very visual learner. They pair you with a mentor that you meet with once a week and it was extremely helpful to me to be able to get that dedicated one on one time. I absolutely recommend this program! -
S Verified via LinkedIn
Data Analytics Flex
Great resources and materials covered, but I do think that they could have done better by matching the mentors that are experts in all kinds of tools that are covered in the curriculum. For example, my mentor is very knowledgable in Excel, SQL, but cannot really help in Tableau. -
Vida Verified via LinkedIn
UX/UI Design Immersion Program
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I really enjoyed my time with Thinkful in their UX/UI Design Immersion program. They have done a great job of creating courses led by actual designers who are still working within the field who can speak to the most needed skills that designers have right now. I got a great foundational education in design, I love that the projects are not cookie-cutter like other boot camp programs so each student's portfolio is distinguishable from their peers, and I got an overabundance of support with both coursework during the program and with job hunting after the program! The benefit of this boot camp is that your success as a student directly affects the success of the boot camp and Thinkful. Therefore the instructors, TAs, mentors, and career counselors do everything in their power to help you be as successful as you can be. The program is not for the faint of heart and it is hard work, but if you stick it out, there is no way you won't be successful! -
Matt Verified via LinkedIn
Career Change
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I recently was contemplating changing careers, as my current career was not engaging enough for me, nor was I learning anything new on a daily basis. This time of reflection was happing just months before the COVID-19 outbreak. While cases were growing, my office actually closed its doors and I was left to seek new opportunities or learn new skills that would propel me into a new a rewarding career, that was both fulfilling and challenging. I came across Thinkful and it looked like a great place to develop the skills I needed to compete for a position in the tech industry. I knew I wanted to code and build applications so I joined Thinkful's Engineering Immersion course. The pace was intense and engaging, which is what I imagined a normal week for a developer would be. The depth of the education material was thorough and working 1:1 with cohort members and advisors was invaluable in preparation for dealing with co-workers and managers.
After the course, I was paired with another advisor that helped me with every stage of applying to jobs, interview preparation, as well as reviewing and negotiating offers.
Overall, I believe I gained much invaluable information in a curriculum form that made sense to follow. I recommend Thinkful to anyone, either looking to change careers or get a head start in the industry, because of their outstanding program and commitment towards your success. -
Brandon Niles Verified via LinkedIn
Data Analytics Immersion
My experience was pretty good. I did however come into this program with a bit of technical experience that definitely helped me accel. The instructors were great for the most part. And the curriculum was challenging which I enjoyed. -
Joshua Vaughan Verified via LinkedIn
Engineering Immersion Program Review
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I discovered Thinkful's programming last year after losing my contract job due to the pandemic. The following are things I believe anyone interested in participating in their Bootcamp would find beneficial to know.
Let's start with the Positives:
1.) They offer a living stipend/income share agreement
Thinkful's partnership with Vemo (not Venmo) opens the doors for many people struggling financially. I can honestly say that without this program I wouldn't have been able to attend this life-changing program. The stipend is 1500/month and was just enough to ensure all my bills were covered and that I could have some food in the fridge.
2.) Thinkful offers a job guarantee
This job guarantee definitely was a major consideration. Especially the "qualifying position" points in the contract. I knew that any business that was willing to risk their revenues would have to be pretty sure of their programming and curriculum.
3.) Pair Programming focused learning (full-time immersion)
Being able to work and network with other aspiring devs of differing skill and experience levels was one of my favorite parts of the program. It also gave me an idea of how I would fit in, culturally, to the industry. I was able to learn from and teach other students in the same way that I would in a work setting.
4.) Teaching Assistants were incredibly helpful!
During business hours, TA's were always willing to sit with you until the issue you were facing was solved - and didn't leave until you felt comfortable with the concept you were having issues with. I cannot stress enough how great the TA's were.
5.) Mentors
While some mentors were hit/miss, they allowed you to request new mentors until you found a fit. I had fantastic mentors, an Academic Success Manager who TRULY cared and had a vested interest in my growth, and several fantastic career coaches! I sincerely believe I would not be anywhere near as successful in my program without them!
Now for the constructive criticism:
1.) Communication to students about changes in the program are non-existent
In the middle of my cohort, there were MASSIVE changes made that ran the risk of severely affecting our success.
One of which was changing from dedicated TA's for each cohort to general TA's that also were working with another program not affiliated with Thinkful (from what I was told). Another change happened before our cohort was completed, in that the careers team were no longer guaranteeing us interviews with partnered employers. The program was eliminated and this was a major thing that set Thinkful apart from its competitors. This felt like disingenuity from Thinkful, given we were sold this program on certain things and it was just changed without letting us know ahead of time or having us grandfathered in to finish out our program.
2.) Certain instructors are toxic.
While 3/4 of my instructors were fantastic, eager to guide and develop aspiring devs, 1 instructor in particular almost led me to attempt to find a way to leave the program. She would outright call out/embarrass people in class, would deflect any questions about the material with "call a TA after lecture", then show up in our paired rooms when we put in a TA ticket only to harass us and not answer the question or just flat out say "I dont know what you're asking" and leave the room and clear the ticket. Not a single student coming out of the React block of the curriculum felt strong and well over 50% dropped due to the inept and at times extremely unprofessional "teaching" style of this instructor. Every single person in the cohort put in a complaint against her, and I have recently attended AMA's and have found that she has gotten WORSE - with claims that she has been acting racist on camera during lectures. The fact that she is still working there is unacceptable and I know that all of my mentors have reached out to escalate this, but Chegg has not done anything to alleviate the situation and her employment continues. Were it not for her, this would be a fully 5-star review for instructors.
3.) Outdated Curriculum
The curriculum at the time of me undergoing the program was, as was told to me by my original mentor who has since left, at least 2 years out of date. With that being said, I have seen Thinkful working to update the curriculum and am exceptionally happy about this. Seeing them drop jQuery and adding in hooks and functional components to the React course is great, and I'm actively seeing people going through the program talking about it in the slack channels - which is fantastic.
TL;DR Summary -
I would and continue to recommend Thinkful to all of my friends and any aspiring devs. It was a fantastic program that was worth every penny for the resources I received. While I experienced one awful instructor, changes in programs without being informed, and an outdated curriculum that was being updated, I still managed to find a job within 60 days of graduation. I also gained a large group of friends from the program who are just as passionate about the industry as I was. 4.25/5 stars.Serena Green of Chegg Skills
Digital Marketing Associate
Apr 15, 2021
Hi Joshua. Thank you so much for taking the time to leave such a thorough review. We appreciate the kind words as well as the candid feedback. Regarding your comments about your instructor, we take that very seriously and would like to escalate this internally. Could you please email our Director of Educator Experience, Theresa, at theresa@chegg.com to investigate further?
Sincerely,
Serena -
Bice Verified via LinkedIn
Fantastic Program
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I attended the engineering immersion program through Thinkful in 2020.
I am very pleased with the quality of the program and what I learned in the curriculum.
The experience was a rich and valuable one, and has led me to my recent employment as software developer. The options provided by Thinkful along with the stipend program paved the way to where I now find myself. Don't fool yourself, the program is rigorous and challenging, I came in with a lot of experience prior and still found it to be testing at times. But challenges are what we must endure to both value something and get us where we want to be. I recommend the program. -
Jennifer Verified via LinkedIn
Thinkful/Bloc Designer Track Graduate
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I recently graduated from the Designer Track of Thinkful's Bloc online program and had a very positive experience.
I do feel the curriculum, projects, and assessments have prepared me to enter the field of UX Design and I'm beginning work with the careers team now to start that journey. I enjoyed the self-guided curriculum and found it easy to move through, particularly with the support of real-time chat for curriculum support.
The program can feel isolating and frustrating at times if you don't take initiative to reach out for support. I didn't connect with my first mentor who was rarely fully available, but once advocating for my needs with the academic support team I ended up with two different excellent mentors throughout the remainder of my coursework and exceptional support from the academic support team. The support is there, but only if you seek it out. Creating and joining student groups on the Slack channels is also a great way to build up your support system, which you'll really need to fully enjoy the course in my opinion.
Overall, I'm so glad I did the program and I'm excited to begin working with the careers team! -
Kyle Verified via LinkedIn
Software Developer
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I had a really great experience with Thinkful's Engineering Flex program. I learned a lot of valuable tech skills and had tremendous support from my mentor and the Thinkful community.
The only thing I'd caution prospective students on is that the program is an enormous amount of work - particularly if you lack any prior programming experience. So if you work full time, have kids, or other competing obligations, then you should plan accordingly and be aware that projects may take longer than you anticipate. But that's because you will learn a lot! -
Daphne Verified via LinkedIn
Engineering Immersion - Best Investment
Thinkful provides a flexible channel and study environment for the students, and the mentor system is really helpful for beginners like me. Spent 8 months following the courses and landed a front-end engineer position two weeks after graduation. The capstone projects were evaluated with really high standards to make sure the graduate was qualified as a professional developer. -
Amy Verified via LinkedIn
Excellent Program
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Thinkful's UX/UI Flex program was an incredible experience. I feel confident in my ability to excel in the interview process and perform the required job skills and continue learning from those around me. The instructors/assessors were excellent and gave specific constructive feedback, though it seemed like the expectations around the assessments were unclear making it difficult to pass on the first attempt. My mentor wasn't as available as I'd thought, though that may have been an isolated experience. My ASMs (academic advisors) were AMAZING and went above and beyond to make my experience and seamless as possible. -
Layne Anderson Verified via LinkedIn
Thinkful
Thinkful is an institution that is dedicated to ensure every student is successful in their education and future endeavors. The mentors and professors are there 100% of the way in case any student needs help, and the course content is amazing! -
Carl A. Verified via LinkedIn
UX/UI Design Flex
Thinkful was a wonderful experience and helped me expand my skills as a designer and learn the UX design process. I really enjoyed the projects and the opportunity to work with a mentor (Shout out to Greg). The program stretched me in new ways and gave me the skills necessary to find a new career. I’m so excited for what is next and how this will impact my life and career! -
Joe Dickey Verified via LinkedIn
Great Learning Experience - Flex Engineering
I found my time in the Flex Engineering program to be a truly valuable learning experience! The curriculum is thorough and easy to navigate. I also gained a ton from my mentor sessions which would lead to some deep dives into topics outside of the curriculum. -
Kameron Masullo Verified via LinkedIn
Great Program
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Completing Thinkful's Engineering Immersion program was the best decision I've ever made for my career. A year ago, I had just learned what a for loop is. Now, five months after graduating from the program, I've just accepted an offer for a full time position as a software engineer.
Though this program focuses on web development, the concepts learned will transfer broadly across many different pursuits in software engineering. By the end, you will be experienced with JavaScript, HTML, CSS, React, some Node and SQL, as well as data structures, algorithms, various backend libraries, and important fundamental programming concepts. You will be skilled at developing responsive, dynamic, full-stack web applications using technologies relevant to modern workplace requirements.
Committing to this program will require 40-60 hours per week. The majority of that time will be spent paired with a different student every day, walking through the lesson(s) of the day, and working through exercises and/or problems together. There are three big projects toward the end of the program, two of which are web apps that you will come up with from scratch. The last project is a team project with 3-4 other students. These are great to feature on your online portfolio after finishing the program.
I recommend studying a bit of JavaScript before starting the program, but it is certainly not required. Overall, the curriculum is solid and sufficient, though you might sometimes have to research certain details from outside sources because some of the lessons are somewhat wanting of more detailed and nuanced elaboration. There are a few sections that favor simplicity and a straight-to-the-point approach at the expense of thoroughness, which is not always a good thing. Luckily, you are given a mentor and a team of senior developers that you may consult at any moment during your day, and they will jump into your video session to walk you through your issues.
When you finish the program, you are paired with a career coach and given many tools to help you in your job search. These were crucial to my success as a job seeker; I really can't speak highly enough of Thinkful's dedication to its students' success after graduation - I certainly benefited from it.
If you are considering Thinkful, I think it's a great option. -
Ana Verified via LinkedIn
UX/UI Course
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Thinkful has one of the better career services I've heard! After you graduate from the course, they have amazing career coaches that pair you up with different job applications and they help you throughout the entire job application journey, from cover letters to networking. I have learned so much about the job hunt, thanks for Thinkful! For the main course itself, it is what you take/make of it. Seek feedback and help because it is hard to get help if you don't ask. They have a help center, but ask your mentor for good feedback and they will give it to you. I believe that every graduate from here has an equal right to succeed and this isn't an easy ride. UX is difficult and it's becoming such a saturated field, so work hard and rewards will come. -
Logan Verified via LinkedIn
Data Analytics - Flex
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Thankful was a great experience and led to me getting a job less than a month after graduating. I’m now building the experience I need to excel in my field. My professional coach was extremely knowledgeable and helped me connect what I was learning to how it would be helpful. After the graduate the career team is very knowledgeable and encouraging in what can be a very trying time. Anyone who has job hunted before can tell you how miserable it can be. But they are extremely knowledgeable about what you have to do and when you have to do it in order to start getting results. Would definitely recommend Thinkful to anyone looking to get in to the tech industry. -
Kenny J Kim Verified via LinkedIn
Digital Marketing Specialist
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I started the Thinkful Digital Marketing program back in late 2020 and the whole experience was top-notch, to say the least. I learned so much about today's digital marketing tactics such as creating and understanding buyer personas, social media marketing, email campaigns, google analytics, SEO/SEM, and so much more! I also love that the grading system has high standards for all the assignments, especially when working on your resume and cover letter. Overall, I enjoyed the whole program very much and I highly recommend anyone looking to expand their horizons and learn a new, valuable skillset for your future endeavors. Thank you Thinkful team! -
Brandon Leek Verified via GitHub
Software Engineering Immersion
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Thinkful's Software Engineering Immersion course is a 5 month, full-time course, where you learn HTML, CSS, and JavaScript for the purpose of creating full-stack web applications with modern tooling that is widely used by employers today, and it was a top-notch experience. The teachers, assistants, dedicated mentor, and career support were very knowledgeable, experienced, and helpful throughout my time there. We even had a teacher that had her doctorate in Computer Science and taught the data structures and algorithms part, which was arguably the most difficult section! That being said, your experience is entirely what you put into it: they give you all the guidance, tools, and even a $1500 / month stipend (if you qualify for that), but you need to put your best effort into it and ask for help when you need it, no matter how trivial the problem you encounter seems. The most important part, for me, is to make sure you can see yourself doing this and what you do after graduation! It's vital that you continue you're learning and working on projects, as you apply for your first job in the tech industry. My only gripes with Thinkful was on my final capstone. I decided to use a newer standard in the React.js framework (React Hooks, instead of Class-based components), and I had to refactor my code to use the standard that was taught in the curriculum. I feel that I should have had to do all that and even gotten extra credit! I also feel they should add React Native, which is almost exactly like React but for dedicated mobile apps, which I feel would make an excellent addition to the curriculum and valuable, after seeing it's prevalence in my job search. -
Imani Verified via LinkedIn
UX/UI Flex
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Participating in the UX/UI Flex program (prev. Product Design) at Thinkful has been a great way to jumpstart my career in design. The coursework was challenging, but realistic, and I was able to learn skills that I use in my current design work. Thinkful places a high emphasis on iterative design and the design process, which has been invaluable when I've applied for jobs or been asked to explain my decisions to clients. The biggest selling point for this program, however, is the design mentors. Having someone who has been in the design industry for years provide feedback, tips & tricks and resources from their own experiences was truly invaluable. I'm still in touch with a couple of my mentors, people I know I wouldn't have met without this program. After the program we had help from career services, which was nice. We had weekly design challenges, meetings with our coaches, resume and portfolio reviews, and most important to me, a community of supportive designers to bounce ideas off of and share resources with. Overall, if you're looking for an avenue to enhance your design skills or make a career change (like I did), I would recommend this program. -
Jon Verified via LinkedIn
Data Science Flex - A Great Experience, Through and Through
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My time at Thinkful was a lot of things- challenging, engaging, and effective. It was marked by periods of frustration and then total euphoria when I was finally able to make things work with the help of my wonderful mentor and support team. In the end, I was successful in finding a new career after about 800 applications, dozens of phone interviews, and a handful of in-person interviews.
I was fortunate to have support in several forms. My academic advisor provided me with a lot of "meta-knowledge" in terms of learning how to learn effectively. This cut down my time and frustration, coupled with the ability to vent my concerns to her. My mentor was very technically savvy and was always able to help solve my problems. Those who I presented my capstones to were friendly and gave me great feedback on how to improve in the future. Finally, my career advisor was a true professional who guided me through the extremely tedious and grinding job-application process.
I think that the coursework was interesting and comprehensive. In terms of what I do now, I use a fraction of what I learned but in a very focused way (SQL, in particular), but that is to be expected in an age of specialization. I also think that coursework was well-paced and I never fell behind. That said, I was only working in the evenings at the time I took the course, and so I was able to devote several hours a day to my studies at Thinkful.
If I were to change one thing, I would make it more apparent how long and grueling the job-application process can be. Things have changed since COVID, to be sure, but I ended up putting in an equal amount of work into the job-hunting process as I did the data science course at Thinkful.
TL;DR - A non-college graduate like me powered through the coursework and after many failures, eventually found a good job through hard work and a great support team at Thinkful. -
David Verified via LinkedIn
Data Analytics Flex
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Overall: Really informative, effective program. Were very up front with the program, process, etc. Site and modules were laid out well and organized. Would definitely recommend for getting your feet wet (if you're willing to pay the financials) and will work if you immediately continue to practice what you learned in the program. Programs like this though seems best for someone with a related college background (statistics for example) who's looking to build upon or enhance their knowledge/skillset.
Instructors: I did the Flex program which meant I was paired with a mentor. I went through a total of two after losing touch with my first mentor (mostly due to my own poor communication). Both were very friendly and seemed generally knowledgable. I didn't get much of anything out of these meetings though. After completing an exercise I was often recommended to go through it with my mentor after, but because the modules provided the solutions and "how to" there wasn't much for us to go over. Would recommend Thinkful to provide their mentors more talking points/guidance on how to run these 1:1s to make these interactions more valuable.
Curriculum: A lot was covered and was very informative. Definitely covered what would be needed in a real position from a conceptual and technical standpoint. Would probably recommend either removing some of the sections on resumes and other related points since a lot of this was also just covered again by the career coach after graduation. Despite covering Tableau, SQL, and Python, after searching the job market I don't feel this program provides enough for you to immediately step in to a position that requires you to use these skills proficiently. Excel would be the exception (SQL maybe). I think it does provide a solid foundation, but you would need to practice and develop those skills on your own after to land a position which uses them (I landed a position that primarily uses Excel).
Job Assistance: I had a great experience with this. After graduation you are assigned a career coach to guide you and help you in the job search process. Mine was excellent. She was very knowledgeable and had a lot of great tips. The guidance and tools they provided were valuable and helped me land the role I have now. This is why I feel the modules in the regular curriculum covering resumes and Linkedin are a little unnecessary. This was covered by my career coach and their instruction was far more valuable. This portion covers the 6 months after graduation and I found a position after about 3 months. Though I also didn't follow through with the networking and some of the tasks assigned by my career coach as diligently as was recommended. I also don't have a college degree which did limit some opportunities.
To reiterate, I did the Flex program. In the regular program you will be in a "class" so you're going to be connected with others to collaborate with and ask questions of. Overall though, as far as bootcamps go, I can't see how it gets much better than Thinkful. I chose them because of great reviews and it lived up to them. If you don't have any background or related college education, you're going to have practice and put in extra work in order to actually get proficient with the skills you'll learn. After just a couple months I found myself forgetting a decent chunk of what I had learned. The program simply doesn't provide enough exercises or projects (and even then the modules sometimes walk you through it a little too much) to master anything outside of Excel. But as I said before it does provide you with a great introduction and solid knowledge foundation. Also if you take more initiative than I did with freelance or practice projects after graduation, you may find yourself with a better mastery of the skills and programs. -
Jeremy B Verified via LinkedIn
Data science flex program
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Curriculum
Thinkful advertises their courses as the equivalent of a Master's program. Data science is a broad and deep multidisciplinary topic, and no program could hope to cover everything, but I do feel that Thinkful's program gave me a solid base in data science concepts and practices. No prior knowledge of programming or statistics are assumed, and those basics are covered. Python and its packages for math, statistics, machine learning, and visualization became familiar and comfortable tools (including NumPy, Pandas, Scikit-learn, Matplotlib, Seaborn). There are opportunities to explore further topics via an elective specialization topic later in the course. Course material is also updated to keep up with topics and trends.
Be warned--Thinkful will tell you this program can be completed in six months, and it's definitely possible, but you need to be ready to commit to it as if it is a full-time job, seven days a week, if you want to finish in that time. I worked a part-time job as I worked through the program, and ended up needing to extend my enrollment to complete the full course. Your program manager and mentor will work with you if/when extending your enrollment seems necessary.
Instructors
Thinkful pairs you with one of their mentors for the duration of the course. Mentors have both education and business experience in your chosen field. Students meet with mentors regularly for review and questions about course material. Thinkful offers students the opportunity to change mentors as necessary. If I have a complaint, it is only that when I reached my specialization topic near the end of the course, and the topic I chose was not familiar to my mentor, I had to play "mentor roulette" to attempt to find a mentor with experience in my chosen area. As I understand it, Thinkful has already addressed the issues I had, and a better system is in place to better match students with mentors for this part of the curriculum.
Job Assistance
Job searches are brutal, and probably the most difficult to handle when attempting a career change. Thinkful's job coaches are your best cheerleaders and a needed source of accountability on this part of the journey. I had been working with a career coach even before I committed to Thinkful's program, and it was encouraging to hear my Thinkful career coach offering advice that lined up neatly with a professional who has decades of experience across a broader range of careers. They most likely will not find a job for you, but they will help you develop the skills you'll need to successfully navigate a job search, and find a job in your new chosen field. -
Richard van der Westhuizen Verified via LinkedIn
Very In-depth, amazing course
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I changed careers from a graphic designer over to a UX/UI designer and Bloc/Thinkful's Designer Track course was my first point of contact. My experience was fantastic. They really go deep into all of the topics, as well as give you info that you would normally have to find on your own (and the material is refreshed constantly). My mentor was great, showed up every time and gave me fantastic guidance, that was one of the best experiences for me. Not only that the career guidance (and mentor) I received after finishing the course was incredible. They give you the tools and the necessary info to get out into the work-place. Everyone I dealt with went over and above their normal responsibilities which is refreshing. It's a tough course that requires a lot of commitment but very fulfilling once done. -
Sara W Verified via LinkedIn
Engineering Flex Bootcamp
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I found Thinkful in 2019 and enrolled in the Immersion pre-course in December. After completing the pre-work, I decided the Flex program would be a better option for me, so I switched! I talked to my mentor and my program manager and they were both very supportive of my decision to switch programs. On January 1, 2020 I started the Engineering Flex program. It was a unique situation as the Immersion pre-work is roughly the same as the first month of the Flex program. Thinkful was super helpful and helped me transfer my work so I didn't have to repeat what I just did.
I settled into a routine with my work and probably spent 20-30 hours per week on the program to start. After everything shut down, I was able to devote more time to the program. I had 3 different mentors - 1 for the first section when I thought I was doing the immersion program, another for the second module through capstone #1, and then another for the React/Node/capstones. I really was able to learn from all 3 of them and had a great experience with each of my mentors. Personally, learning on my own and working 1-on-1 with someone works well for me. I was able to work on my own time and while I did think this contributed to me taking a bit longer on the program, I think I was able to absorb more information.
My ASM (academic success manager) was also great. She was responsive and I always enjoyed talking to her. She was motivating as I pushed to finish which was helpful.
The curriculum made sense, for the most part. However, it is a lot of information in a short amount of time. You will not be completely ready for a job. You just have to be curious and willing to do some learning on your own. Even throughout the program, I had to constantly look things up - which I was grateful for given that in any job you will be doing the same thing. This teaches you how to become a competent "Googler" and researcher. Being able to find the information you're looking for is crucial. I also highly suggest using the resources Thinkful provides, like the technical coaches and the Slack channel. These things were tremendously helpful for me.
I really appreciated the fact that technical interviews were included in the program. They are nerve-wracking and scary, but so necessary! I feel like that was a huge reason I was able to be successful in real-life interviews upon graduation. Definitely take these seriously and spend time preparing so you can be successful here.
GETTING A JOB IS NOT EASY. This was a big misconception for me, personally. I thought I would graduate and instantly find a job. I think this is a mistake of bootcamps in general and is not specifically Thinkful's problem. It is extremely difficult to find a position with no prior professional/commercial experience. I would recommend trying to find an internship or something to bridge the gap between bootcamp experience and real-life experience. You really have to be devoted to the job hunt and be willing to apply, put yourself out there, and continue learning after you graduate. A job (most likely) will NOT just fall in your lap. However, if you do the work, you will find a position. Just be patient and realize that it does take 3-6 months.
Overall, the program was great. I learned a ton of information and made some good connections. I appreciated how some career-prep was integrated into the program as well. I chose Thinkful because of their career support upon completing the program. I knew I would want help with the next step. I was super impressed with my career counselor. She did a fantastic job helping with responding to potential employers and helping me negotiate when I finally did accept a position. -
Trina Verified via LinkedIn
Challenging but Enjoyable
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I graduated form Thinkful's full stack engineering program back in August 2020, and overall I really enjoyed my experience with them. The course structure felt very organized and the staff were always available and willing to help with any issued we encountered. Each 8 hour day consisted of an hour lecture, then about 3 hours of pair programming, then a lunch break, another slightly shorter lecture, then the rest of the day spent pair programming.
We also did technical interviews regularly throughout the course to make sure that we were keeping up with the material, and to get some interviewing practice.
And we built a few projects to go in our portfolios. I like that they put a lot of focus on the job search as well as different work styles in the industry.
Like some other people mentioned, you wont learn absolutely everything you need to know to be job ready, but you will learn the fundamentals, as well as how to acquire the skills and experience you need to get into the industry.
Overall, I had a great experience with Thinkful, and I'm really proud of everything I learned in the course. I would do it all over again if given the chance. -
Eric MacKay Verified via LinkedIn
Data Analytics Flex Program
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The Data Analytics Flex Program was exactly what I needed to make a career change from Customer Success to Data Analytics. They guide you through content in an efficient manner and build out your base skills for things that matter in the real world. There is a lot of focus on careers and many resources you have mock interviews with and get feedback and advice from - this was the best part of the program. I talked to I think around 10 people in the field throughout the program. My mentor met with me weekly and was helpful in more ways than just the coursework. Like any learning, you get out of it what you put into it and if you take advantage of the people and the resources then obtaining a job will come easily in the end. -
Arlindo Pacheco Verified via LinkedIn
UX/UI Design Flex
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I took the UX/UI Flex course in six months. The curriculum was great but you can't rely solely on that. You have to be curious enough to read, practice, and practice some more on your own. If you do that and take the curriculum seriously and always show up to mentor meetings, you are bound to be an amazing UX designer. After graduating, I was on the job search full time for 1.5 months before I got a job offer. Highly recommend! -
Julianna Verified via LinkedIn
A great experience
An overall great experience through this UX Design transition journey. All resources, mentors, career coaches and community were very supportive at all times! -
Dustin Verified via LinkedIn
Software Engineer
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I recently graduated from Thinkfuls Engineering Immersion course. My experience was pretty great from start to finish. The course is very fast-paced and you are expected to keep up. I would advise brushing up on your Javascript before enrolling. That being said, they are there to help you be successful. I always felt the instructors were knowledgeable and helpful. The TA's were probably the strongest part of the course. They did a great job of helping you solve your own issues.
This school offered a living stipend as well as deferred payments, which, without it would not have been possible for me to attend. The career services were great, they really do a lot to put you in a good position to find a job. I was hired before our official graduation date and am making 30k more than in my previous position. While the cost can be a bit steep, I feel that attending Thinkful has been a game-changer and absolutely worth it.
The one thing I think that they can improve upon is making sure their mentors are up to date with what the students are learning.
My mentor was fantastic but at times it felt as if they were disconnected from the curriculum. Overall I would give Thinkful an A, it was a great experience and I am looking forward to my new career. -
Ivanna Verified via LinkedIn
Data Analytics
It was a great experience. A lot of times I was not sure if I can do it, but I had my mentor and ASM helping me to keep going. And I did, I graduated. I am confident in what I have learned and ready to apply these skills at work! -
david Verified via LinkedIn
UX/UI Immersive - Just Don't
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1/20/2021
I've been in the UX/UI Intensive program and will soon complete it, and it has been hands down one of the worst experiences of my life. The instructors you meet with face to face are amazing, but literally every other aspect of the program is extremely toxic. The grading is inconsistent, the grading team will fail assignments for things that were not required in the assignment listing, and the actual content is stuff you could definitely find on youtube or somewhere else on the internet for free. It seems like Thinkful actively pushes students to drop out.
They also straight up lied about class sizes. When I was in the middle of enrolling, the recruiter I spoke with assured me that the instructor to student ratio was about 1:20, only to sign up for the first day and find 60+ students in the cohort.
Further, they assert that you'll easily find a job afterwards but their rates of successful employment are conveniently skewed from reality. For reference, the first class worth of students from this particular program still has a high unemployment rate amongst them.
